Natural History Gallery

Exhibits from all over the world first occupied the purpose-built first floor gallery in 1862. The gallery was completely refurbished in 2000 but retains its original Victorian character.

Magnus Spence’s herbarium in Stromness Museum

Orcadian Magnus Spence (1853-1919) assembled his herbarium collection in the late Nineteenth and very early Twentieth Centuries. The number of specimens in the herbarium is 918, comprising 556 species of vascular plants, seven algae and five bryophytes. The original total certainly included two further species of vascular plant, each represented by a single specimen.

This irridiscent butterfly is usually found in the tropical forests of Latin America, from Mexico to Colombia. It is one of the largest butterflies in the world with a wingspan of five to eight inches.

Homosteus milleri

This fossil led Hugh Miller, the self-taught Scottish geologist, to write Footprints of the Creator.

Portrait of Dr Hugh Miller

Portrait of Dr Hugh Miller (1802 - 1862). Born in Cromarty he was a self-taught geologist, theologian, journalist, poet and stone mason.

Miller’s book "Asterolepis of Stromness" became a formative influence on Darwin’s The Origin of Species, and the fossil remains a star exhibit today.

Golden Eagle

Golden eagles have wingspans of from 185 to 220 centimeters (6ft 1in to 7ft 3in).

Honey Buzzard

One of about a dozen honey buzzards seen in Orkney in September 2000. This one was found on roof of Orkney College and it died two days later. A honey buzzard's wingspan can be 135-150cm (53-59 inches).

Neuropteris

A fossil seed fern.

Spiny Lobster

Spiny lobsters are found in warm seas such as the Caribbean and Mediterranean, and in Australasia.

Carcharodon

Fossilised sharks' teeth.

Plesiosaurus backbone

A Plesiosaurus was a large marine reptile which lived in the Jurassic period.